Nearly a third of schoolgirls have HIV, says Motsoaledi

At least 28% of schoolgirls across the country are HIV positive, it was reported on Thursday.

The Sowetan reported that only 4% of boys at schools were HIV positive.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi released the figures at a National Council of Provinces "taking Parliament to the people" event in Carolina, Mpumalanga.

"It is clear that it is not young boys who are sleeping with these girls. It is old men. We must take a stand against sugar daddies because they are destroying our children," Motsoaledi was quoted as saying.

He said 94 000 schoolgirls fell pregnant in 2011 across the country.

"About 77 000 girls had abortions at public facilities. We can no longer live like that. We want to put an end to it."

Some of the girls who fell pregnant - and tested positive for HIV - were reportedly between the ages of 10 and 14.

Motsoaledi said of the 52 districts in the country, the Gert Sibande district, in Mpumalanga, topped the list of HIV positive people.